Lepenitsa Cave

Lepenitsa is a cave situated 13 km southwest of the town of Velingrad in the Rhodope Mountains, on the left bank of Lepenitsa River. The cave is 1525 m long, spread on three floors. The lowest one is 273 m long and an underground river passes through it. The water flows with 1600 m/h. The second floor is occupied by two lakes in dry weather, which become four when it is raining. The third floor is dry. The entrance of the cave is only a meter high, and the cave’s profile is quite inclined. This in fact has helped the cave protect its unique beauty. The cave has a very few branches, which provides the visitors the opportunity to enjoy the cave in its entire splendor. After entering the cave several halls can be seen. The floor of the first one is covered by flakes that look like shells. When the cave is lightened they refract the light in a variety of colors. Besides, there is a crater hall, a pearl hall, a small and a big temple in the cave. Here the speleologists have found seven pearls – some of the rarest natural formations that are now exposed in the National Museum of Natural History. According to Dr. Petar Beron there are four animal species in Lepenitsa that are not found in any other place in the world.